Monday, 28 September 2015

India, US sign $3 billion contract for Apache, Chinook helicopters

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 28th Sept 15

On Monday in New Delhi, US and Indian
officials signed contracts for the purchase by the Indian Air Force (IAF) of 22
AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, and 15 CH-47F Chinook multi-mission heavy
lift helicopters.

Two of the contracts, which were signed in
the afternoon between teams from Boeing headquarters in the US and Indian
defence ministry officials, were for the “direct commercial sale” (DCS) part of
the contracts. This includes the entire Chinook helicopter, and the flying
portion of the Apache (less engines), as well as logistic support, spares and
services.

The purchase of the Apache weaponry and
radar was signed separately as a “foreign military sale” (FMS) purchase by the
Indian defence ministry, which signed a “letter of agreement” (LoA) to this
effect with the Pentagon. The FMS portion of the sale includes munitions,
training, aircraft certification, and components like engines, electro-optical
sensors and the radar.

“Contracts for purchase of 15 #Chinook and
22 #Apache Helicopters signed”, tweeted defence ministry spokesperson, Sitanshu
Kar, late on Monday evening. He did not release further details.

The value of the deal for both helicopters,
including DCS and FMS portions of the sale, is approximately $3 billion.

According to the contract signed, Boeing
will start delivering the Chinook and Apache helicopters 36 months from today.
The entire delivery is to be completed in 48 months from the signing of the
contract.

Both helicopters will be delivered in
fly-away condition, i.e. fully-built and ready for operations. Since Boeing is
committed to a 30 per cent offset liability, there may be some portions that
are built in India.

Already, Indian companies are involved in
the building of the Chinook. Bangalore-based Dynamatics Technologies builds the
aft pylon and cargo ramps for the Chinook’s global supply chain.

Boeing sources say that additional Indian
vendors are being scouted for building more components.

This contract will further consolidate the
US position as India’s second-biggest arms supplier, behind only Russia.

The Apache AH-64E is the world’s most
fearsome attack helicopter. It is armed with anti-tank missiles, rockets and a
chain gun that fires 625 rounds per minute that can rip apart an armoured
vehicle. The Apache has flown close to a million mission hours in conflicts
from the First Gulf War in 1991 to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Similarly, the Chinook, which first flew in
the Vietnam War, but has continuously evolved in design, is one of the world’s
most well-reputed heavy lift helicopters. It is capable of underslinging and
lifting a light 155 millimetre howitzer to support troops in high altitudes of
up to 15,000 feet.

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

The 22 Apaches must be replacement of Mi25 in IAF. This number has been cooked up without applying any thought. For use against anti terror and COIN operations apart from guarding our borders, we need at least 70+ Apaches and around 200 LCH.